EMBL researchers introduced SDR‑seq, a single‑cell method that sequences DNA and RNA from the same cell and exposes non‑coding regulatory regions where most disease‑associated variants lie. The technique provides higher resolution on how non‑coding variants influence gene activity and may accelerate mapping of causal variants in complex diseases. By linking regulatory elements to transcriptional outcomes at single‑cell scale, SDR‑seq addresses a long‑standing barrier in functional genomics. The tool should be of immediate interest to groups working on variant interpretation, target discovery and biomarker development across multiple disease areas.